Church members show thanks by serving neighbors

Friday

Parishioners at Immanuel Baptist Church in Savannah were called upon to honor that commandment. On Thanksgiving morning, they answered.

Nearly 20 church members arrived early to prepare breakfast for residents at The Woods of Savannah, an assisted living facility across the street from the church on Hodgson Memorial Drive.

"We serve Christ, and his instructions to us are to be concerned about our neighbors and to reach out to our neighbors," said Pastor Larry Williams. "And these folks are our nearest neighbors."

Because a case of pneumonia left The Woods' manager out of commission, the facility had no direct liaison with the church. Therefore, attendance was a bit sparse at this first breakfast - 16 guests showed up. But those who did partake were happy for the meal, and for the caring company.

Friends Irene Hendrix and Hilda Gordon crossed the street together to share the meal with each other and their church friends. Hendrix was eager to share news of the event with family in Pennsylvania.

"Now I have something to tell them back in Pittsburgh," she said. "And the men cooked."

The idea for the breakfast was born when parishioner Richard Powell thought about doing something for others.

"I had wanted us for some time to get involved in feeding somebody besides ourselves," he said. "I told the preacher that, and he said, 'Yeah, I would, too.' "

The church already had begun cooking meals for some residents after meeting them through a weekly Sunday school class that the church has at The Woods.

Laura and R.L. Lowe, church members since 1961, were planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with their daughter later Thursday, but they said they were very happy about going to cook breakfast for The Woods residents Thursday morning.

"A lot of them are by themselves," Laura Lowe said, "and at least it will give them a little fellowship together."

The church hopes to make the Thanksgiving breakfast an annual event, and the Lowes both plan to volunteer again next year.

As the last guest made her way back across the street, the volunteers prepared to clean up so they could go visit their own families.

Before they did, though, Williams closed the morning with a prayer: "Let this be the start of something that goes on and on and on."

Photographer John Carrington contributed to this report.

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